US6725425B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for retrieving information from semi-structured, web-based data sources
Assignee: Yodlee Inc
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Filing: 2000-03-22
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Granted: 2004-04-20
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Expires: 2020-03-22
Abstract
Abstract An Internet search system is structured for efficient data retrieval from semi-structured data sources. The configurable Internet WEB search system has a browser module for navigating to and displaying a WEB page, a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval, a data-type input function for a user to denote data type to be extracted from a selected block portion, and a search implementation function for implementing a search under the search system. The data type entered by the data input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and data found is retrieved to be provided to the user. In a preferred embodiment portions of the system are executed on a user station, and other portions on a Portal server to which the user may subscribe.
Inventors
- 👤 Sreeranga P. Rajan
- 👤 Senthil Kumar Pandurangan
- 👤 Jonathan Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/951; G06F16/953; G06F16/9538; G06F16/957; G06F16/958; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/41; H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1101; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2119
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A configurable Internet WEB search system, comprising: a browser module for navigating to and displaying a WEB page; a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval; a data type input function for a user to denote data type to be extracted from a selected block portion; and a search implementation function for implementing a search under the search system; characterized in that the data type entered by the data type input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and matching data found is retrieved to be provided to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A configurable Internet WEB search system, comprising: a browser module for navigating to and displaying a WEB page; a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval; a data type input function for a user to denote data type to be extracted from a selected block portion; and a search implementation function for implementing a search under the search system; characterized in that the data type entered by the data type input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and matching data found is retrieved to be provided to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein block selection is by click and drag techniques as used in blocking text for a word processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein data types are entered as natural language strings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein multiple blocks may be selected and a data type associated with each selected block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein search implementation is initiated as each data block is selected and a data type is associated with the selected data block, and matched data is immediately retrieved and transmitted to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein matched data is retrieved and accumulated for a user until the user requests transmission of the accumulated data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein the search system is implemented between a user station and an Internet Portal server, the block selection and configuration function and the data type input function executing on the user station, and navigation and data retrieval functions are executed by the Portal server.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The search system of claim 1 wherein the user operates through a portal server to access and configure WEB pages, and the block selection and data type association functions generate a data type definition (DTD) file associated with the WEB page listing the selected blocks and associated data types for the page.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The search system of claim 8 wherein the user has a home page on the portal server listing URLs visited regularly by the user, and wherein the system saves the DTD files created by the user for the user's regularly visited pages in a manner that the search system may be initiated by the user for selected pages from the home page, and when initiated, searches the selected pages according to the stored DTD for each page.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for searching WEB pages by a user for specific data, comprising steps of: (a) navigating to a WEB page by the user via a browser function; (b) selecting a specific block of the WEB page by the user using a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval; (c) inputting a data type to be associated with a selected block using a data type input function characterized in that the data type entered by the data type input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and matching data found is retrieved to be provided to the user.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for searching WEB pages by a user for specific data, comprising steps of: (a) navigating to a WEB page by the user via a browser function; (b) selecting a specific block of the WEB page by the user using a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval; (c) inputting a data type to be associated with a selected block using a data type input function characterized in that the data type entered by the data type input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and matching data found is retrieved to be provided to the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, in step (b), block selection is by click and drag techniques as used in blocking text for a word processor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, in step (c), data types are entered as natural language strings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, in steps (b) and (c), multiple blocks may be selected and a data type associated with each selected block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, in step (d), search implementation is initiated as each data block is selected and a data type is associated with the selected data block, and matched data is immediately retrieved and transmitted to the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 wherein matched data is retrieved and accumulated for a user until the user requests transmission of the accumulated data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the search system is implemented between a user station and an Internet Portal server, the block selection and configuration function and the data type input function executing on the user station, and navigation and data retrieval functions are executed by the Portal server.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the user operates through a portal server to access and configure WEB pages, and the block selection and data type association functions generate a data type definition (DTD) file associated with the WEB page listing the selected blocks and associated data types for the page.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the user has a home page on the portal server listing URLs visited regularly by the user, and wherein the system saves the DTD files created by the user for the user's regularly visited pages in a manner that the search system may be initiated by the user for selected pages from the home page, and when initiated, searches the selected pages according to the stored DTD for each page.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-20 | 2007-10-20 | 2008-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-20 | 2011-10-20 | 2012-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-20 | 2015-10-20 | 2016-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |